SITTING BY THE PHONE

Tucker atop Pikes Peak in Colorado...14,110 feet!

Saturday was a glorious day.  Tucker returned home from a 10 day road trip with his grandparents.  Now 10 days may not seem like much but to this Mama it was an eternity.  Tucker is a full head taller than me (about 6-4) and he gives me what I call my "Mama chin hugs".  My head fits perfectly under his chin when he hugs me.  I was missing that alot.  You see we have always had a philosophy....if we can't all be there we don't need to be there so being away from our kids for an extended period of time  hardly ever happened. 


Every time the phone would ring I would leap what ever was in my path to answer it hoping it was him.  If I didn't hear from him fairly often I would call him.  Tommy even admitted he was breaking company policy by getting on Facebook to see if he had posted any pictures.  Facetime on the Ipad was a lifesaver in the evenings as I would get to chat with him Face to Face to hear about his adventures of the day. 


I was the exact same way when CariAnna was away at college or Natalie is gone with friends.  And it all rings true when Tommy is at work.  I just long for that phone to ring so I can hear the voice of my loved one. 


Being alone is my fear.  I DO NOT LIKE IT!  Don't get me wrong.  I am not in denial.  I know it is inevitable but I am dreading it like crazy.  I think I am subconsciously preparing myself for Empty Nest.  I have many many projects started around my house that I swear I will finish later.  I think in my mind later means, "someday when I have nothing else to do."   Will there be a day when I have nothing else to do?  My Mama says no!


Well, here is my AHA! moment.....I will never be alone!  God tells me “Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you.” Hebrews 13:5.  It seems to me that he is the GOD of the Empty Nest.  His children leave all the time.  But he promises us that when we get our lives back together he is waiting with a forgiving heart and an ear to hear all about it! "If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness."  1 John 1:9


Today, (you know I love a good deal), I had a 2 for 1 AHA! moment.....GOD sits on his throne and anxiously awaits to hear from me.....his child.  When is the last time I talk to him intimately.   Sometimes when Tommy calls I tell him my days was boring but he always says, "I still want to hear all about it because I love you."  I may not have life changing requests for GOD everyday but he still wants to hear from me.  "Casting all your cares on him, for he cares for you." 1 Peter 5:7. 


I hope my kids know that I will always be just a phone call away....waiting to hear from them!   The phone, like prayer, is our lifeline to our family.  My grandparents have been gone for almost 20 years and I still remember their phone number.....###-2073.  It was an important number.....wish I could still call and get an answer. 


Well, I suppose this ole bird should get out of bed now and stop pondering on sitting in an empty nest and start my day.  I do, somewhere in my heart, want my fledglings to leave the nest and experience life as I have but I'm not gonna rush it.  It will happen soon enough.  Right now, I gotta find something exciting to do today so I can have something to tell Tommy when he calls.  I don't want him to think he is married to a boring lady!!  I have a reputation to uphold. 


"Hey GOD,  stay close to that holy phone today.......I'm may be calling you back sooner than you think!!  And could you have Papaw and Granny close by?  I would love to hear their voice again."